Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38580949›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2024

Knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age living in a peri-urban community in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

Obed Akwaa Harrison, Idolo Ifie, Chikere Nkwonta, Bennett Atta Dzandu, Albert Owusu Gattor, Emma Efua Adimado, Kofi Kafui Odoi, Benedicta Aziavor, Firibu Kwesi Saalia, Matilda Steiner-Asiedu

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Presentation and management of neural tube defects in the middle belt of Ghana.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Obed Akwaa HarrisonDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. oakwaa_harrison@st.ug.edu.gh.
Idolo IfieDepartment of Food Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, England.
Chikere NkwontaDepartment of Food Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, England.
Bennett Atta DzanduDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Albert Owusu GattorFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry II, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Emma Efua AdimadoInstitutional Care Division, Ghana Health Services, Accra, Ghana.
Kofi Kafui OdoiInstitutional Care Division, Ghana Health Services, Accra, Ghana.
Benedicta AziavorDepartment of Education, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Firibu Kwesi SaaliaDepartment of Food Process Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Matilda Steiner-AsieduDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
University of Ghana · GHGhana Health Service · GHUniversity of Leeds · GBUniversity of Regensburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFolic acid, a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis and maintenance, making it particularly significant during reproduction. Its well-known ability to reduce the risk of congenital anomalies during the periconceptional period underscores its importance. The increased requirement for folate during pregnancy and lactation is essential to support the physiological changes of the mother and ensure optimal growth and development of the foetus and offspring. This study assessed the knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid among pregnant and lactating women of reproductive age residing in Dodowa in the Shai Osu-Doku District, Accra, Ghana.

methodsThe study was a cross-sectional design that involved 388 randomly selected participants (97 pregnant and 291 lactating women). Structured questionnaires were administered to gather information on the socioeconomic demographic characteristics, knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid of the participants. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square analysis tests and are presented as frequencies and percentages, means, standard deviations, bar graphs, and pie charts. The significance of the results was determined at a 95% confidence interval.

resultsThe mean age of the participants was 31 ± 5.0 years. Among the study participants, 46.1% demonstrated knowledge of folic acid deficiency, while approximately 68.3% had a high awareness of folic acid supplementation. Approximately 75% of the participants indicated that they had not used folic acid supplements within the week, and 15.5% reported consuming folic acid-fortified food per week.

conclusionsThe women exhibited high awareness but poor knowledge regarding the usage of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. Consequently, this lack of knowledge influenced the low use of folic acid supplements and low intake of folate-rich foods among pregnant and lactating mothers.

Indexed as

Neural Tube DefectsVitamin B ComplexAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDietary SupplementsFemaleFolic AcidGhanaHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansLactationPregnancySurveys and QuestionnairesFolic AcidVitamin B ComplexAwarenessFolatesFolic acidKnowledgeNeural tube defectsVitamin B9

Identifiers

PMID38580949
PMCPMC10996122
OpenAlexW4393989808

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.